News and Events

BU students win project challenge

15 April 2009

BU student helping to build wildlife pond

BU has revealed the winning team of the Project Management University Challenge 2009.

A team of BU students has been crowned ‘Project Management University Challenge Champions 2009’, after using their business acumen and creative spirit to build an environmentally-friendly learning area.

Sacha Fernando, 24, Philippa Smith, 20, and Jamil Ajla , 22, impressed a panel of judges from industry by designing and building a wildlife pond for St Luke’s School C.E. primary school in Winton, Bournemouth.

The inaugural competition, supported by the Wessex Branch of the Association for Project Management (APM) in partnership with BU’s Business School, was launched back in January to promote the value of Project Management skills.

Fifteen teams of students from BA Business Studies and Management courses were set the task of developing a proposal for a sustainable learning project.

During February and March, the teams put their proposals into action, ensuring projects hit key milestones and came in on time and on budget.

The teams were mentored and judged by Wessex APM members, including Dan Jane, Maurice Howell, Keith Flack, Elizabeth Russell, Cathy Edbrooke (Head of Project Delivery for McCarthy & Stone plc) and Miles Shepherd (APM Vice President).

The winning team was commended for its project’s approach to sustainability at the awards ceremony, hosted by APM Chairman, Russel Jamieson, at the end of March.

Winning team member Jamil Ajla from Syria said: The event was extremely challenging. I have learned core skills in project management and teamwork, which is very helpful for my future. It was an enjoyable and unforgettable experience.”

Runners up were Irene Livens, Danielle Lyons and Ian Macaree, who developed two projects for the Linwood Youth Centre in Winton and raised a substantial sum that will help send a team to the Special Olympics.

BU's Karen Thompson, Programme Leader, said: “The judges had a fascinating and difficult job separating the finalists as the standards of project management demonstrated were extremely high, as were the quality of the presentations and the levels of energy and enthusiasm.”

Following the success of the event at BU, Wessex APM is now planning to promote the 2010 event to a wider group of Universities in the South.